7 Ways to Make Your Mom Feel Like a Queen on Mother's Day Without Spending Any Money

Ask any mother she will tell you, Mother’s Day is not about how much money was spent on gifts and there are much more creative (and often times more special) ways to tell you mother how much you love and appreciate her besides emptying out your wallet. This year, Mother’s Day falls on May 10th-giving you plenty of time to plan something special. So we’ve put together a list of gift ideas that are both special and creative but absolutely free, picked out by moms themselves. 

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

1. Make a scrap book or photo album of recent pictures

As we get older we tend to take less family photos, but this doesn’t mean they don’t get less important, so snap some nice pictures of you and your siblings for your mother to enjoy.

2. Give her a framed list of all the reasons why you love and appreciate you mom.

We all loved our mothers and appreciate all the things they have done for us, but don’t always tell them. Seeing a written out list of all these reasons will mean a lot to her. And actually seeing them on paper will serve as a nice reminder of why you love your mom too- and after all that is what Mother’s Day is about. 

3. Bring her a cooked breakfast, preferably in bed

 Nothing makes a person feel special like having a delicious cooked breakfast brought to them while they are in bed.

4. Give her a clean house

Most moms love a clean house, but usually to achieve this they are the ones who have to do the majority of the cleaning. Give your mom a much deserved day of relaxation by doing the cleaning for her. 

5. Burn a CD of all her favorite songs

Music has a way of being able to instantly bring you back to some great memories. When I hear certain songs, they immediately remind me of my childhood because my mother would play them all the time. Making her a mixtape of these songs will serve as a nice flashback for both of you.

6. Cook her favorite meal for dinner 

 For any mom, an ideal Mother’s Day would involve lots of delicious food, none of which was prepared by her. Continue the pampering after breakfast by preparing her a nice dinner made up of her favorite foods. And don’t let her do the dishes afterwards!

7. Volunteer to do one of the chores she hates for a week

No one loves chores, but many parents have that one chore in particular that they just hate- for my mom its ironing. Do her a huge, amazing favor by offering to do this particular chore for an entire week. Hopefully her least favorite chore and your least favorite isn’t the same!

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

7 Ways Moms Can Plan an Awesome Staycation This Spring Break

Kids count down the weeks till their end of February or spring break, but for moms it usually means a full week of keeping the kids occupied, and sometimes that can prove to be a challenge, especially if you are living in a cold climate. Some families take this week to plan a trip, but not all parents can get that time off. So if you are planning a Staycation for you and your kids, there are still some fun activities for the whole family to enjoy to make spring break a fun time for everyone (yes, even you!).  

1. Video Game Olympics 

If your family has a game console and your children like video games then you can turn this into a really fun activity for the whole family. Pick a game that everyone can easily learn (like Mario Kart or Wii Bowling) and host an olympics to get everyone involved. Pick teams or play individually- it’s up to you! To motivate all the players, give a little prize to the winner of each category. You can even set up snack stations with gatorade, protein bars and fruit to make it feel more real! 

2. A Themed Movie Marathon

Pick a theme for the day like animated movies, alien movies, or super hero movies and then have everyone vote on the ones they want to watch. Then, deck out the TV room to look like the best movie theater ever- blankets, pillows, dim lighting, popcorn, juice, and maybe even some candy. And of course, all the attendees can wear their comfiest pajama set.

3. Organize a Scavenger Hunt

Who doesn’t love a scavenger hunt? No matter how old your kids are, it is sure to bring out their competitive side! You and your spouse or your other mom friends can work together to make clues, maps, and put together some treats for them to find. Let your creative side come out when you’re writing the clues, they can be puzzles, riddles, or even poems. If you want to make a learning experience out of it, you could even make them simple math problems or history questions. 

4. Family Cook-Off

If your kids have shown an interest in cooking, or would like to learn, spring break is a great time to start. Have every member of the family choose a dinner or dessert item they would like to prepare. Then give each person a budget and go grocery shopping as a family to pick everything out. To make it even more fun, let the kids pick out a fun apron of chef hat to wear while they prepare their masterpieces. After all the cooking is done, sit down as a family to enjoy everyone’s creations.

5. Go Camping in Your Own Backyard

If the weather permits, pitch a tent in your backyard and have a camp night. To make it feel more real, roast marshmallows and sit in a circle telling ghost stories. If the weather is still too cold, just take the camping to your living room.

6. Turn Your Home into a Foreign Country or City

This requires some planning ahead of time, but if you can’t travel anywhere for spring break this year- bring the destination to your own home! Have the family vote on a city they would like to go to, like Paris or Tokyo, and then transform your home into that city for a day. Put up some fun decorations, read stories from or about that particular place, watch movies that take place there, and make your meals with traditional meals from that culture. Maybe even learn a few words in their language. This activity is not only a ton of fun, but it can also become a great way to teach your children more about other cultures. 

7. Play Tourist in Your Own Town

Take this week to visit all of the places in your town or city that you have been meaning to but have never had the time for, like that cute little museum, art gallery, or neighborhood park you have never gotten the chance to take the kids to. 

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

An Expecting Couple Takes a Picture For Each Day of the 9-Months and the Result is Truly Spectacular

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it seems only right to share this video. A couple had a simple idea that turned into something truly spectacular. The expecting couple took a photo each day of the 9-month pregnancy and through the birth. The video brilliantly highlights the beauty and joy of both pregnancy and childbirth. 

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

The Best Gift Ideas for this Mother's Day: Brought to You by Real Moms

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, coming up on May 11th, and now is the time to start searching for that perfect gift. There are always the traditional gift ideas like breakfast in bed, a massage gift certificate, flowers, and so on but this year if you are really trying to do something different- look no further! After asking real moms what they would choose if they were giving their own Mother’s Day gift, we have generated a list of unique ways to say “I love you and appreciate all you do for me” through thoughtful and creative gifts. For many people the perfect gift has nothing to do with the price tag, and for mothers this is especially true. It is about how much time and thought went into it…so don’t wait for the night before, get started now! 

Learn more about the award-winning Fujimini Adventure series.  Purchase the books here.

Gift Ideas For Mom Brought to You By Moms:

1. A scrapbook or photo album of current pictures of you and your siblings 

-As we get older we tend to take less family photos, but this doesn’t mean they don’t get less important, so snap some nice pictures of you and your siblings for your mother to enjoy.

2. A framed list of all the reasons why you love and appreciate you mom

-We all loved our mothers and appreciate all the things they have done for us, but don’t always tell them. Seeing a written out list of all these reasons will mean a lot to her. And actually seeing them on paper will serve as a nice reminder of why you love your mom too- and after all that is what Mother’s Day is about. 

3. Clean her house for her

-Most moms love a nice clean house but usually that means they are the ones who have to keep it that way. Taking this off her hands for a day will give her time to relax and do something a little more fun. 

4. Surprise her with a Netflix subscription

-If she doesn’t already have one, a subscription to Netflix is a perfect gift for any movie or TV lover. 

5. A collection of her favorite songs that she played throughout your childhood

-When I hear certain songs, they immediately remind me of my childhood because my mother would play them all the time. Making her a mixtape of these songs will serve as a nice flashback for both of you.

Learn more about Mompreneur Eileen Wacker and her acclaimed book series here

6. Take her car to the carwash, have the interior vacuumed, and fill the tank

-Car maintenance is one of the biggest (and most expensive) hassles. It will make her week to have this taken off her hands and have a shiny, brand new looking car to drive around. 

7. A floppy hat and sundress to match

-If your mom loves the beach and the sun as much as mine does, a trendy floppy hat and dress will be an awesome gift to make her the most stylish one on the beach this summer.

8. A smartphone wallet

-I am pretty disorganized, and I’m sure I’m not the only one out there. A stylish smartphone wallet is a cute and convenient way for her to keep all her things together. 

9. A “Learn to Knit Kit”

-If your mom has any interest in sewing, knitting, or wants to take up a hobby, a knit kit might be the gift for her!

10. A Custom Picnic Basket (made up by you not by the store)

-Find a nice, good sized picnic basket then fill it with her favorite things. Her favorite bottle of wine, cheeses, chocolate, tea, spices, breads, and so on. Get as creative or fancy as you like! 

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

Now, you’ve done the preparation and Mother’s Day has arrived. First, let her sleep in as long as she likes. It probably won’t be very late (it seems after a while mothers just naturally wake up early) but it is knowing that she doesn’t have to get up for anything or anyone that counts. Then when she is ready, bring her in a cup of coffee or tea followed by a tray with her favorite homemade breakfast decorated with a small flower in a vase. When she is done with her breakfast, clean the kitchen and put everything away. Then pick a family activity that you know she enjoys that you can all do together- or if she would prefer to relax and read her book all day in the sun let her do that, after all it is her day! 

How You Can Get Involved This Earth Day

Today we celebrate a safe and healthy planet with Earth Day! This day is important because it serves as a reminder that it is our responsibility to keep our precious earth clean and do whatever we can to minimize pollution in the environment. There are several easy ways to get involved and join the fight for a clean environment!

1. Plant a tree

Planting a tree in your backyard is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday! Not only is it a fun activity that can get the whole family involved, but it also will provide a habitat for other plants and animals. This activity will help to combat pollution by lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

2. Create a vegetable garden

Expand on the tree idea by not just planting one tree but a whole garden! Spring is the perfect time for gardening, so why not get started today? Get your children involved by letting them choose which fruits and vegetables they want to have in the garden and show them how to plant and take care of their designated plants. 

Has your family received a Nook, Kindle or iPad this year?  Find Fujimini Adventure Series award-winning books here.  Great family-friendly gifts.

3. Clean up your local park

Help make a difference this Earth Day by heading to your local park with friends and family! Use this time to circle the park, picking up the litter that detracts from the park's natural beauty. Maybe you will even meet other families who are also trying to help out while you're there!

4. Go on a hike

Even if you aren't going to get hands on for Earth Day, set some time aside to admire and surround yourself with nature! Find some trails nearby, put on some sneakers, and go on a nice nature hike. Not only is it asthetically pleasing- but you'll also be able to sneak a work out in! 

5. Recycle 

If you don't already, take the time on this holiday to sit down with the family and construct a recycling system that works for you. Recycling is so important for our environment and will really help to make a difference in making our Earth a healthy place!

To learn more about Modern Moms and The Mom Code, please visit ONCEKids Publishing website, Facebook and Twitter

6. Attend an Earth Day event

Countless Earth Day events are held across the nation on April 22nd, so find one near you and bring the kids along. These events are filled with fun and informative activities that people of all ages can enjoy!

Whether it is planting a vegetable garden or simply making a pledge to recycle, everyone can make a difference in keeping our environment clean. So honor Earth day by stepping up in your community and joining the fight for a healthy planet!

Everybody's Irish on Saint Patrick's Day!

Today, most likely no matter where you are in the world you'll be seeing an awful lot of green! Traditionally an Irish celebration, the popularity of St. Patrick's day continues to spread, weaving it's customs through countless cultures. So whether you're watching the parade through New York City or partying in the crowded streets of Tokyo- you'll probably be surrounded by people dressed head to toe in green, green and gold beads, and a beer in their hand. 

Since the very first Saint Patrick's Festival held in Ireland in 1996, holiday celebrations have spread to almost a five day event. Aside from Dublin, one of the biggest holiday celebrations includes the location of where Saint Patrick is rumored to have been buried- Downpatrick, County Down.

Montreal takes the prize for one of the longest-running Saint Patrick's Day parades throughout North America, being home to various holiday parades since 1824. 

Even people in Asia are starting to catch the Irish fever. Japan is now home to nine parades across the country- its first parade being put together by the Irish Network Japan in the early nineties. Seoul has been getting in the spirit of things since 1976, when the Irish Association of Korea organized their first parade.  

Has your family received a Nook, Kindle or iPad this year?  Find Fujimini Adventure Series award-winning books here.  Great family-friendly gifts.

On Saint Patrick's Day everyone is Irish, so join the other billions of people around the world by cracking open a Guinness and putting on something green! 

To learn more about Modern Moms and The Mom Code, please visit ONCEKids Publishing website, Facebook and Twitter 

Where Did the Practice of Spring Cleaning Begin?

With Spring knocking on our door, with it comes the arrival of the loved and dreaded (but mostly dreaded) spring cleaning. Spring cleaning, a term most of us are quite familiar with, refers to the heavy duty clean sweep we give our house after the long winter days are coming to a close. But since we all know what spring cleaning is, where did it actually come from?The practice of spring cleaning is actually more widespread and historic then we initially imagined. Several different possibilities for the origin of such practices are suggested. 

One theory is that the concept of cleaning and preparing one's house for the coming of spring dates back to the Persian new year, Iranian Norouz. Every part of the house is carefully cleaned and put together nicely in anticipation of the new year, which falls on the first day of spring. This cleaning is referred to as khooneh takouni, which translates to "shaking the house". 

Has your family received a Nook, Kindle or iPad this year?  Find Fujimini Adventure Series award-winning books here.  Great family-friendly gifts.

Another theory suggests that spring cleaning came about from the ancient Jewish practice of purifying and cleansing the home before the arrival of Passover. There are guidelines that surround the holiday forbidding the consumption of any food or drinks that may have been fermented with yeast. Strict observers of this rule with thoroughly clean their home to rid of such foods and drinks. 

It could also be said that the Chinese are responsible for the creation of spring cleaning traditions. The Chinese carefully dust, sweep, and organize their homes to prepare for the Chinese New Year, with the belief that they are cleansing their home of last year's bad luck and inviting good luck in for the next year. 

Although, theories of the origins of spring cleaning vary, it is a practice that is still quite common throughout cultures. Greece even has a designated week for such cleaning, known as Clean Week. Falling during or right before the first week of Great Lent, Clean Week is a time for the people to clean and organize their houses from top to bottom! The Scottish tradition of New Year's cleaning has spread to other countries such as Ireland, North America, and New Zealand. 

Happy spring cleaning everyone!

To learn more about Modern Moms and The Mom Code, please visit ONCEKids Publishing website, Facebook and Twitter 

Have Fun This Spring Break Without Breaking the Bank

Can you believe it's spring already? This means spring break for the kids is just around the corner!

Sipping margaritas and reading a book on the beaches of Turks and Caicos may not be in your budget this spring (don't we all wish!), but there are still lots of creative activities you can plan for spring break this year that are fun for the kids- and free for you!  

1. Set up a lemonade stand

-Set up a table and some chairs, paint a sign, and mix together some lemonade and you've got yourself a fully functioning lemonade stand! Priced at 10 or 25 cents per cup, selling lemonade is not only a great money-saving activity, the kids can even make a little pocket change. It's a fun way to keep the kids entertained and also helps you interact and socialize with the neighbors. 

2. Create your own outdoor water park

-Instead of spending all that money to make a day trip with the whole family to a water park (which can sound more like a nightmare than a vacation to those of us who have ever been parents to younger children), set one up in your own backyard! If the weather is nice enough, break out the slip and slide, beach chairs, sprinkler, umbrella, and snacks to create your family's own personal "water park". To make it extra fun, thrown in some water balloons and have a water balloon fight- or just watch while the kids have one! 

Has your family received a Nook, Kindle or iPad this year?  Find Fujimini Adventure Series award-winning books here.  Great family-friendly gifts.

3. Turn the water park into a campsite 

-Once the water park day has been concluded, and hopefully the grass has dried, turn the water park into a campsite! Gather some sleeping bags, pitch a tent, and set up a camp fire to make it feel like real camping- even if it's just in your backyard. Don't forget the sticks and marshmallows to roast some s'mores! 

4. Visit Your Town's Hot Spots 

-Plan a less stressful but equally eventful day out by staying local. Scout out your town's local hot spots and pay them a visit. Spring break is the perfect time for the family to eat at that restaurant you've always been meaning to go to, spend the day at a local park, or explore a museum nearby that would be interesting for the whole family. 

There are plenty of activities that the whole family can enjoy without breaking the bank, so don't be too stressed or disappointed about not planning a tropical vacation- alas, maybe next year! 

To learn more about Modern Moms and The Mom Code, please visit ONCEKids Publishing website, Facebook and Twitter 

Keep a look out for the next part in our "Here Comes Spring!" series featuring spring cleaning!